4) Break tasks down. Take the time to write out what needs to be done (and when) so your child can visually see what’s expected of him or her, and then work together to ensure each step is completed along the way. This will require more upfront help on your part, but your child will eventually learn how to break large tasks and assignments into bite-sized pieces that are less overwhelming.

5) Teach and supervise organization efforts. If your child struggles with organization due to poor working memory, take the time to teach him or her effective organization strategies, and regularly supervise these efforts to ensure they are maintained. This will help keep your child accountable and on track throughout the school year, and set him or her up for long-term academic success.

6) Encourage note taking. Teaching your child to write down homework assignments, create ‘to do’ lists, and take notes while working on school assignments can have a huge impact on improving his or her working memory. This will require lots of prompts and reminders on your part, but over time your child will learn to use these strategies to stay organized and on task.

7) Use praise. Children who struggle to focus and pay attention often receive a lot of negative feedback throughout the day. Teachers and parents spend a lot of time telling these kids about all of the things they’re doing wrong, and while this isn’t always done deliberately, it can have a huge impact on a child’s feelings of self-worth. Offer praise wherever possible, and make it a point to highlight one (or more) things these children do RIGHT each day. Remember that children ultimately want to please their parents and teachers in everything they do, and when you take the time to recognize their efforts – even when they don’t turn out the way they had hoped – it can have such a positive impact on their self-esteem.

11 Super Fun Memory Games and Activities for Kids

Distraction. This working memory game is equal parts hilarious and educational, and can be enjoyed in the classroom or as a family. Players take turns drawing number cards and must remember the growing sequence of numbers until a player pulls a ‘distraction card’. This person must then answer a silly question before reciting the sequence of numbers in the exact order they were drawn. It’s so much fun!